Ya’ll may remember I was the first solo hiker to complete the Blue Mountains Trail in 2020…and since then I’ve been a member of the Blue Mountains Trail Committee helping to promote and advance the establishment of this new long-distance trail in Oregon.
You may also remember the impressive (and at times hilarious and head-scratching) antics of Christof Teuscher, the hiker who finished the 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail in 17 days and 15 hours (what?!?!?!?)
Do yourself a favor and watch his ODT movie series here.
Christof set off on the Blue Mountains Trail in 2022, and I just caught up with his trip via this movie he made of the trip:
You may be shivering after viewing Christof’s troubles on the Wenaha River Trail, but good news! Earlier this spring, the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee passed a funding package that included $300,000 dollars for the Umatilla National Forest to finally restore the Wenaha River Trail along its entire length, a windfall only made possible by the efforts of partners and legislators to recognize the Blue Mountains Trail as one of Oregon’s Signature Trails (I made this story map yo!).
More good news? Lots of trail work is happening along the Blue Mountains Trail, if you have the time and inclination, sign up for one of these trips:
- BMT Volunteer Trail Maintenance – P.O. Saddle/Freezeout – July 24-27
- BMT Volunteer Trail Maintenance – Russell Mountain/ Sugarloaf- July 11-16
- BMT Volunteer Trail Maintenance – Strawberry Wilderness – July 19-22
Finally, many of you out there may not want to hike 500+ miles, so you will love these new short trip itineraries that were just released:
She-ra Hikes 
Thanks for this. Ima watch.
I don’t know Mr Teuscher but wish I did.
Once upon a time he contacted me about the “Cougar Traverse” in Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness because of a blog post I’d written on it. I started twice but due to fire conditions (including nearly walking into the Tripod fire), I still haven’t managed to do it, but he did.
I think that maybe he could out-hike any fire anyway. So go Joe, or, um, Christof, old guy.
I’m actually ten years older than he is and though I have much less to brag about, I’m doing pretty well walking up the sides of the valley that Cuenca, Ecuador is situated in. (Nice seven-mile round trip to lunch today, in decent weather, at 8000feet, and didn’t have to fight off even one dog. Woot!)
LikeLiked by 1 person